[beefield]

I did also imply that people are willing to help because they want to feel themselves good about helping.

Yes, I am a cynical bastard. But I think i is safer to design important institutions in society assuming bad about people instead of assuming good about them.

[michaelmior]

While I don't share your cynicism (acknowledging that naivete can be an equal or greater problem) I think it's true that ideally we should design systems that don't rely on altruistic behaviour.